Compare towns
Westminster vs Douglas vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Westminster | Douglas | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
9,207Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Douglas | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Douglas High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.